Ken Betts has torn up his Liberal Party membership ahead of the 2012 council election. 75972 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By Charlene Gatt
A MARIBYRNONG City Council candidate has torn up his Liberal Party membership so he can stand as an Independent at this year’s election.
Footscray retiree Ken Betts is keen to get more Independent councillors elected when ratepayers go to vote on 27 October, saying there’s too much political influence in the council chamber.
Mr Betts vowed to tear up his Liberal Party membership at the end of last year if the State Government did not reverse its decision to axe the Steiner stream from Footscray City Primary School.
Mr Betts told Star the act also meant he could run for council without any allegiance to a political party.
“I want to run as a true Independent, and this way I am. I didn’t plan it this way, but I have no connections (to a political party) now,” he said.
“I wanted to make it very clear to everybody that I was running as an Independent, because I don’t believe in politics in local government.
“Labor claim they’re not involved in local government… but that’s not true. Now I have no baggage, I am beholden to nobody.”
Mr Betts stood for the seat of Footscray as a Liberal Party candidate in the 2010 State Election and scored 25.18 per cent of the primary vote, gaining an 8.1 per cent swing on incumbent Labor MP Marsha Thomson after preferences were distributed.
He was also one of the main drivers behind Maribyrnong City Council getting rid of the controversial parking cameras in Footscray’s CBD.
A lifelong supporter of the Liberal Party, Mr Betts had only been a paid member for the past 18 months.
He is undecided about which ward he will contest, but is considering River Ward, which is currently held by Dina Lynch and covers Maribyrnong and Maidstone.
Mr Betts said he would pay more attention to the community’s wants and needs, if elected.
“I want to get back to the basics of what councils are there for, and that’s to serve the people – not to do shonky deals and stupid things.”
